Blog

What we run into across the Marina Alta: buying, building, renovating and living here. Short, and without the sales talk.

7 September 2026 · 4 min read

From reserva to key: what actually happens

Signing the reserva feels like the end of the search, but it's really just the start of the process. We walk you through the steps that follow, from the building survey to the day you get the key.

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Reserva, arras and the deed: the difference explained

Buying a home in the Marina Alta involves three moments: the reserva, the arras contract and the deed at the notary. We explain what each one means and why the order matters.

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24 August 2026 · 3 min read

The nota simple: what it contains and why we request it

The nota simple shows in a few pages who owns a property, whether debts are attached to it and what the Registro de la Propiedad says about the boundaries. We explain what this document contains and why we request it for every purchase in the Marina Alta.

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17 August 2026 · 3 min read

What a building survey does and doesn't show

Before you make an offer, our surveyor walks the house. This is what he usually finds, and this is what only surfaces later.

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10 August 2026 · 3 min read

The costs on top of the asking price in Spain

A house in Spain costs more than the asking price alone. Here's a rundown of the items you can expect, and what to check for yourself.

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3 August 2026 · 4 min read

NIE number for your house in Spain: what you need to know

Without a NIE number you can't buy a house in Spain. We explain what it is, why you need it and how you apply for one.

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27 July 2026 · 4 min read

Why buying a house in Spain works differently than back home

In the Netherlands or Belgium you know the steps of a purchase by heart. In the Marina Alta the customs are different, the paperwork is different, and the pace is different, and that deserves an explanation.

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